“Listen In” is a weekly feature in which we ask musicians to curate a mixtape-length YouTube playlist of songs they’re currently digging.
This week’s playlist comes courtesy of the Boston fuzz-pop band Earthquake Party, and provides a clear lineage for their brand of raggedy, hook-driven jams. Guitarist Justin Lally was kind enough to provide commentary on each song, from Suicide’s twisted synth-punk to the Ronnettes’ stone-cold classic “Be My Baby.” Click the big play button above to hear the whole playlist, and scroll down to see and play individual songs along with Lally’s commentary.
Earthquake Party will open for The Thermals at The Sinclair in Cambridge, MA May 23.
Suicide – Rocket USA (1977): “The primitive simplicity and utter ignorance to conventional song construction make this jarring and extremely powerful.”
Hot Snakes – Plenty for All (2004): “A great pop song from a band who didn’t write many pop songs.”
Deerhoof – This Magnificent Bird Will Rise (2002): “An experimental noise band pretending to be The Who.”
Brainiac – To The Baby-Counter (1994): “My favorite band…the guitar break in the middle makes my heart melt every time.”
Pretty & Nice – The Wandering Eye (2011): “Perfect album-closing song from the best current Boston band, hope to cover this someday.”
Broken Social Scene – Superconnected (2005): “These guys just get it. I love the trashy cymbal mix on this record.”
Pavement – Grounded (1995): “…” (Ed: Couldn’t agree with this sentiment more.)
The Ronnettes – Be My Baby (1963): “Without a doubt my favorite song ever, and also my favorite drum beat.”
The Jesus and Mary Chain – You Trip Me Up (1985): “Perfect slacker drug chanting.”
Television – Venus (1977): “Total beauty.”
Times New Viking – Indian Winter (2005): “First song I listen to most mornings, and the last one I’ll leave you with.”
(Mixtape art: Nate Cepis/ANIMALNewYork)
